Walking Together
Encyclopedia
Walking Together is a Russia
n youth movement that was created by Vasily Yakemenko
in May 2000. The group, which had over 50 thousand members as of January 2002, is strongly pro-Putin and is openly endorsed by President Vladimir Putin
's administration. It has strict rules and indoctrination methods, and is openly criticized for its similarity to the Soviet Young Pioneers
established by the Communist Party in 1922. The senior patron of the movement is Vladislav Surkov
, the deputy head of the presidential administration. The group was transformed into Nashi (Ours)
youth group in 2005 after a scandal involving the dissemination of pornography.
Many liberals in Russia fear that the organization is designed to set up a cult of personality around President Putin. Some of the groups requirements include commands to read six Russian classics a year and to visit the site of a battle where Russia was victorious. The reading of modern "liberal" works is discouraged by Walking Together. At one rally, members were encouraged to tear apart copies of Vladimir Sorokin
's Blue Salo, which was deemed pornographic for a passage depicting gay sex between Joseph Stalin
and Nikita Khrushchev
. The group brought formal charges against the author for writing pornographic literature.
for his services. Each of his five "soldiers" receives 50 rubles as well as free T-Shirts. The group soon acquired the nickname the "Putinjugend" in the mass media since the activists usually wore T-shirts with a portrait of Putin. Groups have criticized the organization, claiming that its rallies are only popular with young people because of the free handouts. Members are encouraged to get others to join in a way that mirrors Komsomol
indoctrination methods. Once a member has a red star, he must persuade another 50 members to join.
in 2005.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n youth movement that was created by Vasily Yakemenko
Vasily Yakemenko
Vasily Grigoryevich Yakemenko is a Russian politician, creator and leader of several pro-government youth groups.In May 2000 he founded the movement Walking Together , which became well known for its struggle against Vladimir Sorokin's books and the band Leningrad...
in May 2000. The group, which had over 50 thousand members as of January 2002, is strongly pro-Putin and is openly endorsed by President Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
's administration. It has strict rules and indoctrination methods, and is openly criticized for its similarity to the Soviet Young Pioneers
Young Pioneer organization of the Soviet Union
The Young Pioneer Organization of the Soviet Union, also Vladimir Lenin All-Union Pioneer Organization The Young Pioneer Organization of the Soviet Union, also Vladimir Lenin All-Union Pioneer Organization The Young Pioneer Organization of the Soviet Union, also Vladimir Lenin All-Union Pioneer...
established by the Communist Party in 1922. The senior patron of the movement is Vladislav Surkov
Vladislav Surkov
Vladislav Yuryevich Surkov is a Russian businessman and politician. Currently he is a First Deputy Chief of Staff of the President of the Russian Federation and a top aide to Vladimir Putin. Vladislav Surkov is widely seen as the main ideologist of the Kremlin...
, the deputy head of the presidential administration. The group was transformed into Nashi (Ours)
Nashi (Ours)
Nashi is Vladimir Putin's political youth movement in Russia, which declares itself to be a democratic, anti-fascist, anti-'oligarchic-capitalist' movement. Its creation was encouraged by senior figures in the Russian Presidential administration, and by late 2007, it grew in size to some 120,000...
youth group in 2005 after a scandal involving the dissemination of pornography.
Background
Before creating Walking Together, Mr Yakimenko was the overseer of state-run charities. The group's first action in November 2000 was to celebrate Putin's administration with a rally in front of the Kremlin. Group organizers cite a long history of such groups in Russia.Many liberals in Russia fear that the organization is designed to set up a cult of personality around President Putin. Some of the groups requirements include commands to read six Russian classics a year and to visit the site of a battle where Russia was victorious. The reading of modern "liberal" works is discouraged by Walking Together. At one rally, members were encouraged to tear apart copies of Vladimir Sorokin
Vladimir Sorokin
Vladimir Georgievich Sorokin is a contemporary postmodern Russian writer and dramatist, one of the most popular in modern Russian literature.-Biography:...
's Blue Salo, which was deemed pornographic for a passage depicting gay sex between Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
and Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev led the Soviet Union during part of the Cold War. He served as First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964, and as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, or Premier, from 1958 to 1964...
. The group brought formal charges against the author for writing pornographic literature.
Organization
Walking Together is sponsored by two companies with ties to the Kremlin and the Moscow city council. Members of the group are divided into groups of five called "red stars", each led by a "foreman" who receives a free pager and 1,500 rublesRussian ruble
The ruble or rouble is the currency of the Russian Federation and the two partially recognized republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Formerly, the ruble was also the currency of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union prior to their breakups. Belarus and Transnistria also use currencies with...
for his services. Each of his five "soldiers" receives 50 rubles as well as free T-Shirts. The group soon acquired the nickname the "Putinjugend" in the mass media since the activists usually wore T-shirts with a portrait of Putin. Groups have criticized the organization, claiming that its rallies are only popular with young people because of the free handouts. Members are encouraged to get others to join in a way that mirrors Komsomol
Komsomol
The Communist Union of Youth , usually known as Komsomol , was the youth division of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. The Komsomol in its earliest form was established in urban centers in 1918. During the early years, it was a Russian organization, known as the Russian Communist Union of...
indoctrination methods. Once a member has a red star, he must persuade another 50 members to join.
Decline and transformation
In 2004 the group fell into a crisis. A group member was involved in the illegal dissemination of pornographic video tapes, there were also financial disputes between the Petersburg section and the Moscow headquarters, while Sorokin fell out of favor with the Kremlin. Against this backdrop, the Kremlin created an new youth group call Nashi (Ours)Nashi (Ours)
Nashi is Vladimir Putin's political youth movement in Russia, which declares itself to be a democratic, anti-fascist, anti-'oligarchic-capitalist' movement. Its creation was encouraged by senior figures in the Russian Presidential administration, and by late 2007, it grew in size to some 120,000...
in 2005.